202 PEECT SLADEN TEUST EXPEDITION. 



Famajr HelioporidsB. 



77. Heliopora ecerulea, Blainville. 



This well-known " blue coral " is represented in the collection by a dry specimen. 



Locality. Salomon. 



Previously recorded from Singapore to Torres Strait. 



On the Geogbaphical Distribution of the Alcyonarians in this 



Collection. 



(1) The most remarkable case is that of Plumarella delicatissima, a variety of which 

 was collected at Providence, 125 fms., while the type-species was obtained by the 

 ' Challenger ' at Port Grappler, off the West Coast of Patagonia, 140 fms. This is a 

 striking case, all the more since P. delicatissima is a very distinct species, standing 

 somewhat apart from the numerous other members of the genus. It is true that the 

 form from Providence does not quite correspond with the description given by Wright 

 and Studer, and by Versluys, so that we have made a new variety of it. But it is so 

 near the type that Versluys thought it should be kept in the species F. delicatissima. 



(2) It is interesting to find that Acantliogorgia truneata, Studer, previously recorded 

 from the Bay of Biscay, was collected at Salomon. It is inadvisable, however, to base 

 conclusions on the species of Acanthogorgia, whose boundaries are not satisfactorily 

 defined. 



(3) If our conclusion be coi'rect that Behryce phlUppi, Studer, and B. studeri, White- 

 legge, should be included in B. mollis, Philippi, we have a good illustration of wide 

 distribution — Mediterranean, Andamans, Providence, Amirante, Funafuti, and Arafura 

 Sea. In any case we have no doubt that B. mollis is widely represented in the Indian 

 Ocean. 



(4) Curious, but not satisfactory (because of the vague diagnosis given by Pourtal^s), 

 is the case of what we have called Acis solitaria, Pourtales. The form that Pourtalfes 

 described all too briefly was from the Gulf Stream, 200 fms. ; our specimen is from 

 Salomon, 60-120 fms. 



(5) An interesting case is that of Scirpearia flagellum, Johnson, now recorded from 

 Salomon, previously from near the Azores and Madeira. 



The range of the " blue coral," Heliopora ecerulea, is extended to Salomon. 



